Bottle capping machine



Jan. 2?, 1947. BEDWQRTH' ETAL ZAE4A3$ BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE FiledMay31, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 v A. H. EDWORTH ETAL ,4

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31, 1941 Martha";

all/1:15 JY' Jam. 21, 1947.

A. H. BEDWORTH' ETAL- BOT'I'LE CAPPING MAC HINE Filed May 31, 1941- TSneets-Sheet 5 I L J Jmderi'ory p Mm Jan. 21, 1947. A. H. BEDWORTH ETAL2,414,434

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 fnarzfiy nf Vv15 9x4655 6. (axial! Jan. 21, 1947. BEDWQRTH ET AL 2,414,434

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed liay 31, 1941 r 7 Sheets-Shoot 5 miphry-Jan. 21, 1947. A. H. BEDWORTH ETAL ,43

BOTTLE CAPPING mcnmzi Filed May 31, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet e Jan, 21,1-947. A.- H. BEDWORTH ETAL 2,414,

' BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1941 7 Sheets-Shegt 7 ya 2/"; 1,7W//////'//A V//////A/ ?atented dan- 2i, 1?.

grain amaze v no'r'rtn carrmc Mac Arthur H. Bedworth and Lewis G.Curtis, Mediated, Mass; said Eedworth assignor to said @nrtiaApplication May 31,, ran, Serial No. estate ill Cla. fl

This invention relates to an improvement in bottie, capping machines,more particularly of the type wherein two stations are provided for thebottle to be capped; at the first station a cap, having a downwardlyprojecting flange, fed into the path of a bottle is removed from thefeeding mechanism and placed on the mouth by the movement of the bottle,and at the second station the bottle thus capped is sealed by crimpingor clamping the flange of the cap against the outer wall of the bottle.

The present invention will be described as embodied in a machine forcapping milk bottles, which is of the type'adapted for small dairies, inwhich the bottles. are manually fed to and removed from the machine. Itwill be understood, however, that the invention is not so limited andthat the essential features to be pointed (oi. aceee) out and describedherein may be employed in large machines where the bottles are fedautomatically. l r

The illustrated machine is adapted to cap a bottle having an annularbead surrounding the mouth with acap of tinfoil, Celluloid or the like,having a narrow flange which is crlmped against the under side of thebead.

The objects of this invention are to provide a simple, easily operatedmachine in which the advance of the bottle sets the cap feeding and capsealing mechanisms into operation; which can be readily adjusted forbottles of various sizes, e. g., quarts, p'ints and half-pints; in whichthe mechanism-is operated only when a bottle is to be capped; and whichembodies other novel features, all as will be herein set forth andclaimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation a machine embodying thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale. of the table on whichthe bottles rest and over which they travel;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the table shown in Fi 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the main operating mechanism; I

Fig. 6 is a rear view of such main operating mechanism, with certain ofthe elements omitted:

Fig. 7 is a view of the cap sealing head' with portions broken away;

Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating a control feature of the cap feedingunit;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of another machine embodying thisinvention;

Fig. it is a top plan view of the table of the machine shown in Fig. 9;and

Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views of the actuator for the cap feedingunit.

The two inaces shown in the drawings difier primarily in that themachine of Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive is power driven whereas the othermachine is operated by a foot treadle. The cap feeding and cap sealingunits are identical but the actuators therefor vary as does theadjustment of the tables for difierent sizes of bottles. The commonelements of both machines will be indicated on the drawings and in thefollowing description by the same reference characters.

Each machine it comprises a base or standard it from one side or whichextends a pair of uprights it and l? connected at the top by a crossbarit. The cap feeding unit is suspended from the crossbar it. The bar itextends beyond the upright ii and supports a chute it which carries thecaps to be fed to the bottles. Fixed to the outer end of the bar it is9. depending plate M, to the lower portion of which is secured a bracket22 by which the chute iii is fixed in an inclined position, as shown inFigs. 1 and 9. The caps are nested and stacked in the chute with theirflanges or skirts projecting rearwardly and upwardly. At the lower endof the chute is mounted an annular bandit which receives the lowermostcaps in the stack. The

first or lowest cap rests against a plurality of spring mounted fingers25 and against a pivotally mounted finger 21 at the top of the band.

The finger 21 is pivoted at its rear end upon a bracket 28 carried bythe band 25 and its forward end is held in cap-engaging position by aspring 28.

The feeding mechanism by which the caps are removed from the chute 20includes a. suction cup 30 carried at the apex of a substantiallytriangular. plate 3|. The plate 3! is pivoted adjacent one of its lowercorners ,(the left inFigs. 1 and 9) upon the lower end of an arm 32fixed at its upper end to one end of a rock shaft 33. Fixed to the otherend of the shaft 33 is an arm 34 which is in turn connected by a rod oractuator 35 with the main operating mechanism. Secured at its upper endto the bar I8 is a plate 36 having an enclosed cam path 31 formed.therein adjacent its lower. end. Carried by the other corner of theplate 31 is a roller which enters the path 31 whereby the movement ofthe plate is controlled. Carried by the plate 3| in line with s and aspring 46 connecting .theother end of thefiap with a post 41 on theblock yieldably urges the flap to close the tube 43. Mounted on the flap45 is an arm 48 which extends upwardly and forwardly and carries at itsouter end a trip bar 49 which projects into the path of the bottles and,as will appear from the description of the operation, acts when trippedby a bottle-to break the suction in the tube 40.

The bottle sealing unit comprises a head 50 which rests upon a bracket5| projecting forwardly from a block 52 enclosing and slidable upontheupright I6. A rod 53 plvotally attached to the bracket 5I andactuated by the operating mechanism, raises and lowers the head. Thehead 50 (see Fig. '7) has a casing which includes a top wall 55, sidewall 56 and bottom wal1 51,

the latter being secured to the side wall by an angle beam 58 and havinga central opening 59 therein. Mounted within the casing and suspendedfrom the top wall 55 is an annular plate 60 from the center of whichextends a p st 6| which passes through the top wall 55 and receives anut 62.

Resting upon the plate 60 is an annular disk 63 of rubber whichsurrounds the post 6|. Secured to the periphery of the disk 63 is adown-' wardly extending skirt 64 which terminates in an annular bead 65.The bead 65 is continuous along its inner surface but is provided with aplurality of equally spaced notches in its outer surface. A cup-shapedplate 61 rests upon the disk 63 and is pressed closely in contacttherewith by an expansion coil spring 68 surrounding the post 6I.Projecting outwardly from the top of the plate 61 is a flange 10, theouter edge H of which is semi-circular in cross section. The

side wall 56 is provided with a lining 12, the lower portion I3 of whichis outwardly beveled. Between the plate 67 and the lining 12 are mounteda plurality of fingers 15. Each finger 15 includes at the top a crossbarl6 terminating at its inner end in a concave pocket 11 which receivesthe edge II of the flange'llLand at its outer end in a convex shoe I8adjacent the lining 12. At the bottom of each finger i5 is formed aconcave pocket 80 which receives the bead 65 and a pair of ears IIbetween which is mounted a freely rotatable roller 32. The fingers I5are so positioned that the pockets 80 thereof engage the bead.65 betweenthe notches so that the rollers 62 of the fingers are yieldably heldagainst the lining 12 of the head.

Those. features peculiar to the power-driven machine will now bedescribed. The bottles to be capped are supported upon a table I whichis vertically movable relative to the cap feeding and sealing units topermit handling of bottles of three, sizes. The table I00 is guided inits vertical movement by the uprights I6 and I! having a skirt IOI whichis in slidable contact therewith by a split block I02 which engages theupright I6, as shown in Fig. 3. The uprights I6 and I! are supportedupon the base I by angle brackets I03 and blocks I04.

The height of the 'table I00 is determined by a vertical bar I05 pivotedat its upper end to the under side of the table and having a projectingnose I06 near the lower-end. Resting upon the top of the base I5 andfirmly secured thereto is a post I01 from the inner, face of whichproject vertically spaced studs I08. positioned that the nose I06 of thebar will engage one of the studs I08 and'the studs are so spacedthatwhen the nose I06 engages the lowest stud, as in Figs. 1 and 2, thetable is adjusted for quart bottles and the engagement of the nose withthe middle or upper stud adjusts the table for pint or half-pintbottles. Projecting outwardly from the bar I05 is a handle I09 by whichthe bar can be swung on its pivot to disengage the nose I06 from a stud.The weight of the bar I05 with its handle I09 is such that when thetable i lifted, the nose I06 moves seriatim into engagement with thestuds above it. Whenthe table is to be lowered, however, it is slightlyraised, the bar I05 is swung outwardly (to the left in Fig. 1) by thehandle I09, the table is then lowered to approximately the correctheight, and the handle is released, allowing the nose I 06 of the bar toengage the proper stud.

The bottles are positioned at the ca feeding station and at the capsealing station by adjustable guides carried'by the upper face of thetable I00. The guides at the feeding station comprise a pair ofseparated bars IIO, each bar pivoted at one end upon studs III andhaving at the other end adownwardly projecting pin II2 which enters anarcuate slot H3 in the table. .The ends of the bars are preferablyrounded and receive the ends of spring plates II4 which project into thepath of the bottles and yieldably position them. The guide at thesealing station is a "barrier II5 comprising a U-shaped plate H6supported on one end of a rod Ill and ,a box 8 which supports the rodII'I.

includes side flanges I I9 from which depend pins cate the carriage I25accordingly.

:20 which pass through slots m in the table.

the table is raised or lowered. On the under.

side of the table is a reciprocable carriage I 25 having rollers I26near each end thereof which ride on shelves I21 secured to the underside of the table. On the under side of the carriage I25 are fixed pairsof bars I28 suitably spaced to reinforce the side walls of inclinedconverging slots I29 in the carriage. vThe pins N2 of the bars IIO carryrollers I30 which enterthe slots I29. The pins I20 of the barrier II5are secured to the carriage by nuts I3I.

From the inner edge of the carriage I25 adjacent one of the ways I29projects downwardly a plate I32, carrying rollers I33. The rollers I33are spaced from the plate by collars I34 which extend through a slot I35 in the skirt IOI of the table. Mounted upon the block I04 adjacentthe upright I1 is a cam plate I36 having a flange I31 of irregularconformation and farther from the upright IT at the bottom of the platethan at the top' of the plate. The rollers I33 are spaced apart andengage opposite walls of the flange I 31, v

When the table I00 is moved vertically to set the machine for bottles ofthe desired size, the flange I31 acts through the rollers I33 torecipro- Since the rollers I30 are in the slots I29 of the carriage, the

The post I0! is so,

The bOX H8 acrea e p the plate lit advanced to the right, thus ensuringproper centering of bottles smaller than those of the quart size.

The machine is driven by a motor l lt through mechanism now to bedescribed.

The motor lllli through a pinion ltl on the shaft Hi2 drives a gear l ltfixed at one end of a sleeve Hill which constitutes one element of asingle-revolution clutch. At the other.end of the sleeve ldl is mounteda disk l lb which is provided on its periphery with a plurality ofequally spaced concave recesses lit. The sleeve Hill is freely rotatableabout a shaft lt'l mounted in bearings ltd and is positioned thereon bya collar ltd.

The other element of the clutch is a sleeve I50 which is keyed to theshaft ldll and from which extends an arm lbl. Pivoted on a stud lei atthe outer end of the arm ltl is a plate ltd which is in a planeparallelto the arm lit and spaced therefrom by a collar ltd. As shown in thedrawings the arm IEl and plate ills are in planes on opposite sides ofthe planeof the disk I it. Carried by theplate its is a roller E55adapted to contact with the periphery of the disk Hi5 when the plate letrests upon a bracket I 56 carried by the arm lei against which bracketit is yieldably held by a spring ldl surrounding a pin lit and bearingat its ends against brackets l and ltd. Secured to the plate lid is aroller ltl which projects at right angles from the free end of theplate. Pivotally mounted at its base is a post l which, in the positionshown in Fig. 6, is below and in the path of the roller ltl and in suchposition prevents the rotation of the clutch as will be described below.

The post it? is attached to sleeve llltl rotatably carried by a studshaft l lid supported by a bracket l t5. Projecting from the sleevelei-3 is a right angle pin Hit. the free end of which enters a springld'l which tends to hold the post in'the position shown in'Fig. 6.Projecting from the sleeve its in the opposite direction from the pin llit is an arm l as which'carries a. pin ltd that limits the movementimparted to the sleeve by the spring Edi. Freely rotatable on the pinHi9 above the arm ltd is a roller lit in the path of travel of an armill.

The arm ill, which is fixed to a stud shaft Eli supported by a two-armedbracket He, is

rock shaft ltl. Thus the rotatory movement of the shaft ldl swings thearm ill and causes it to trip the roller lid of the sleeve its and swingthe post iii to the left (Fig. 6) away from the position below'theroller ltl. When the roller IN is released, the plate its is swungclockwise (Fig. 6) bringing the roller ltd into engagement with therotating disk lit and initiating rotation of the shaft lt'l. Obviouslyas soon as the arm IH has passed the roller I10 and the roller ISI hasleft the post I 62, the spring It? acts to re- The other end ofthe linklid is secured to an arm its fixed to aturn the post to its normalposition (Fig. 6), in which it stops the travel of the roller ltl at thecompletion of one revolution so that the shaft l ll, arm lfil, platetilt and associated elements are again at rest.

The arm l'll is restored to its normal position (Fig. 5) by means of atrip it carried by the shaft I 41.: Fixed to the rock shaft ltl is a second arm I86 connected by a link It! with an arm H38 fixed to a studshaft me. Also fixed to the stud shaft I89 is an arm Hill which carriesa roller l9l normally out of the path of travel of the trip lllB. Whenthe shaft It! is turned to throw the clutch as described above, theroller lit is advanced into the path of the trip ltd and is engagedthereby so that the parts actuated by the shaft llll are returned totheir normal position. Since the arm is articulated, the part l'lb willyield upon contact with the roller lid and Pass the latter withoutmoving it out of its nor= mal position.

One end of the shaft it? extends through a right angular plate ldliwhich is secured to the lower wall let of the base It, and reinforced byinclined braces llll. Fixed on the projecting end of the shaft ltll is agear its which, through an idler gear l99, drives the gear Ellt on oneend of a stud shaft 2M. Acollar 202 fixed to the shaft it? beyond thegear. I98 is connected by a rod 203 and crossplate 2M with the rod bitby which the cap sealing unit is actuated. 0n the other end of the studshaft 2%, which is supported by a bearing 205 mounted on the plate ltd,is a collar 2% to which is pivotally connected by a rod 2M andcross-plate ibtlthe lower end of the rod 35 by which the cap feedingunit is actuated.

Suction is set up in the tube it leading to the cup 30 by means of apump 2m driven continuously by the motor l lll through pulleys Eli andFitz and a belt M3.

The rotative movement of the shaft it! by which the clutch is thrown is,in this embodiment, imparted to the shaft by pressure upon i the barrierplate H6 at the cap sealing station.

Fixed to the rod ll'l is a stud 2l5 which extends down through the slotI22 in the carriage. Pivoted to the bottom of the stud 2th is one end ofa link M6, the other end of which is pivoted to the under side of onecorner of a triangular plate 2I'l. The plate 2!] is pivoted at the upperside of another corner to a stud ZIB carried by the table I00. Pivotedto the under side of the third corner of the plate 2H is one end of alink ale. The shaft l8l issupported at its upper end in a bracket 220mounted on the table lbs and carries an arm 22l to which the other end.of the link H9 is pivotally secured.

The operation of the power-driven machine will now be described, itbeing assumed that the parts are as shown in Fig. 1 with the motor litin operation, suction set up in the line it, and the chute 2|]containing a supply of caps The barrler plate H6 is first manuallytripped where upon, through the mechanism already described, the shaftI" is given one complete rotation. The cap feeding unit is set inoperation by the actuator 35, causing the cup 30 to rock and rol low thecam slot 31 until it bears against the lowermost cap in the stack As thecup approaches the stack, the plate 3| raises the finger 21 so that whenthe cup 30 is moved away from the stack it easily carries with it thelowermost cap which is held to the cup by suction. When this firstrevolution is completed the parts have permit such movement.

resumed the positions shown in Fig. 1 with a cap held by the cup 30. Thecap sealing head has in the meantime reciprocated idly.

A bottle of the proper size is now moved along the table I from theright. As the bottle reaches the cap feeding station it trips the bar 49whereby suction in the line 40 is broken so that the cap in the cup 30drops upon the mouth of the bottle just below it. As the bottleadvances, the wiper 38 seats the cap in place on the bottle. When thebottle trips the barrier plate H6 and initiates a revolution of theshaft I41, the head 50 descends and 'crimps the cap upon the bottle.While the bottle is at first moved beyond the sealing position toactuate the rod II! and the parts associated therewith, it is,

' prior to its engagement by the head 50, moved machine is now ready tocap another bottle.

From the above description it will be apparent that the bottles beingcapped determine the operation of both units, the cap is released fromthe cup 30 when the bar 49 is tripped by the bottle, and the tripping ofthe barrier plate H6 causes the head 50to seal the cap on the bottle bywhich the plate was tripped and causes the cup 30 to select a cap to bepresented to the succeeding bottle. In the machine operated by a foottreadle the bottles to be capped are supported upon a. table 215 which,like the table I00 of the power-driven machine, is adjustable in heightand is provided with guides so that it can be set to cap bottles ofvarious sizes, e. g., quart bottles, pint bottles and half-pint bottles.The table 215 is carried by the base IS on the top of which rests ablock 216 secured in position by a vertical beam 211 and having a pin218 projecting forwardly therefrom. swung from a block 219 fixed to theunder side of the table 215 is a bar 280 having several notches 281(three being here shown) which are adapted to engage selectively the pin218 so that the table is firmly supported. A box 282 surrounding andslidable along the upright l6 and secured to the side of the table 215steadies'the table. tending forwardly to a point near the front edge ofthe table (see Fig. 9) is provided to swing the bar 280, the top of thebase being cutaway to By providing three notches 28! the table 215 canbe set at three different'heights to allow three sizes of bottles to becapped, usually quart, pint and half-pint.

In order to position the bottles properly at the stations, guides aremounted on the table. At

the cap feeding station the guide consists of two bars 285 each pivotedat the right end to the table by a stud 286. Straps 281 of spring metal,rigidly secured to the pivoted ends of the bars and bentloosely aroundthe other ends, engage the bottle yieldably. The bars are removably setat the other ends by pins 238 which enter holes 289 in the table. Theholes 289 associated with each bar 285 are three in number. To positionthe bottles at the cap sealing station, a barrier 290 substantially-inthe form of a widened U is provided. This barrier is selectivelypositioned on the table by pins 29I which engage holes292, also insetsof three in number.

The cap feeding and cap sealing mechanisms preferably operatesimultaneously and in the An arm 233 fixed to the bar 280 and ex- Imachine illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive this is attained by theemployment of a foot actuable treadle 300. The treadle 300 is fixed to ablock 30] which encloses and is slidable over the upright l1. Suitablemeans (not shown) are provided to hold the block 30l in the positionshown in Fig. 9, with its upper edge resting against the.

lower edge of a crossbeam 302 suitably secured to the uprights l6 and I1and the vertical beam 211. Carried by the block 30] and extendingvertically in front of the upright I1. is a rack bar 303 which is at alltimes in mesh with a pinion 304 mounted upon a freely rotatable shaft305 supported in a stationary journal 306 mounted on the beam 302. Thepinion 304 is mounted on the shaft 305 in front 'of the beam 302 and agear 301 is mounted on that shaft behind that beam The rocking of theshaft 305 controls the operation of both cap feeding and cap sealingmechanisms.,

The actuation of the feeding mechanism will first be described. In meshwith the gear 301 is a gear 3l0 mounted upon and rigidly secured to thelower end of an arm 3| I. the arm 3 is pivotally secured to a link 3l2fixed to the lower end of the operating rod 35 previously mentioned. Thelink 3l2 comprises a bar 3l3 fixed to the rod 35 and a rod 3l4 attachedto the arm 3H and reciprocable relative to the bar 3I3, being guided byholes in bosses 315 on the bar 3l3. A spring 3l6 encircling th rod 3between the bosses coacts with a nut 3l1" Qn the rod to hold the boss3l8 at the end of the rod to which boss the arm 3 is secured, yieldablyin contact with the bar, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 11. Freelyrotatable on a stud 3l9 projecting from the bar 3I3 is a roller 320.clamped upon a shoulder 322 projecting from the journal 306 supports astationary cam 323.

The depression of the treadle 300 and consequent rocking of the shaft.in a clockwise direc-' tion in Fig. 9) actuates the arm 3| I throughthe gears 301 and 3l0 in the opposite direction. As the arm travels, therod 35 is raised and the arm 32 swung also toward the chute 20. Sincethe plate 3| is pivoted on the arm 32 with its roller in the cam path31, the plate is first rocked on the arm until the roller has traveledupwardly in the path 31 a predetermined distance and is then ad vanceduntil the cup 30 is brought into contact with the lowermost cap in thechute. Just prior to this time the roller 320 on the bar 3l3 of the link3l2 has ridden onto the cam 323 and this cam is 0f such contour that thefinal travel of the arm 3 has no effect upon the arm 32. The dwell thusproduced continues after the arm Ill starts its return travel when thetreadle is released, and during that dwell suction is set up in the cup30 by which the lowermost cap is firmly gripped and 0 removed from thestack in the chute. The cup 30 carrying the cap now resumes the positionshown in Fig. 9, the cap being so inclined that when the mouth of thebottle to be capped is advanced between the guides 285 into contacttherewith and the suction is broken, the cap will drop onto the bottle.As the bottle thus capped is advanced along the table to the cap sealingstation, the wiper 38 seats the cap firmly in position.

The sealing of the cap on the bottle is, as previously pointed out,controlled by the travel of the treadle 300. The pinion 304, in meshwith the rack 303, also meshes with a gear 325 freely rotatable on ashaft 326 carried by the crossbeam 302. The rod 53 by which the capsealing head 50 is reciprocated is pivotally connected at The upper endof A post 32l its lower end to the gear 325 and actuated thereby. Hencewhen a bottle with a cap placed on its mouth has been properlypositioned on the table 215 by the guide 290, the head fill will sealthe cap on the bottle, as pointed out hereinabove.

In connection with the feeding of the caps it has been found ofadvantage to employ suction to hold the caps to th cup 38. Various meansfor setting up suction may be used. The machine shown in Figs. 9 to 12being, as previously pointed out, designed for use in small dairieswhere electric power is not available, must consequently be equippedwith suction creating means which operate without such power. Mounted inthe base It of the machine is a pump having the general characteristicsof a hand pump. Such pump comprises a cylinder 330 having a plunger 33Hprovided with a piston within the cylinder (not shown), an inletconnected to the tube tit and an outlet (not shown). The inlet andoutlet are valved in the usual manner so that when the plunger descendsair is forced from the cylinder through the outlet, and when the plungerrises air is drawn through the tube til. The plunger 33| of the pump isconnected by a rod 332 with the block 3M so that it is actuated inunison with the operation of the feeding mechanism and suction is set upin the line and cup when the plunger 33! starts to rise, the cup 3%being, as previously stated, held at that time in contact with thelowermost cap in the chute 2d.

The operation of this machine is substantially the same as that of thepower-driven machine except for the way in which it is actuated. As-

suming that the parts are in the position shown receives the cap. at thesame time engaging the trip bar 69 to break the suction and release thecap from the cup. The cap is then seated by the wiper 38 on the mouth ofthe bottle, which continues its travel to the barrier 29%. When thebottle is positioned at the cap sealing station by the barrier 29!] thetreadle 3% is depressed. causing the head 50 to seal the cap on thebottle and at the same time actuating the cap feeding unit, as describedabove.

While two embodiments of this invention have been shown and described,it will be understood that the invention is not limited to theemployment of the specifically described features and that many changesin structure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with a table for supportng a series of hottles to be capped, of a cap feeding unit including achute in which a stack of caps is placed, means including a suction cupmovable toward and from the chute and by which a cap is removed from,the stack in the chute and temporarily held at a tion cup movabletoward and from the chute and by which a cap is removed from the stackin. the chute and temporarily held at a predetermined position directlyin the path of travel of the bottles, a suction'line leading to the cupand by which the cap is held to the cup, and a valve in said lineincluding a bar which is tripped by a bottle as it passes the capfeeding unit to break the suction and permit the cap presented by thecup to be seated on the mouth of the bottle.

3. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with a table forsupporting a series of botties to be capped, of a cap feeding unitincluding a chute in which a stack of caps is placed, a cup movabletoward and from the chute and by which a cap is removed from the stackin the chute and presented in the path of travel of the bottles, asuction line leading to the cup and by which the cap is held to the cup,and a valve in said line including a bar which is tripped by a bottle asit passes the cap feeding unit to break the suction and permit the cappresented by the cup to be seated on the mouth of the bottle, and awiper carried by the cup which presses the cap onto the mouth of thebottle on which it is seated as the bottle continues to advance over thetable.

4. In a bottle capping machine, a cap sealing unit comprising a chute inwhich a stack of caps is placed, a cup movable towardand from the chuteand by which the lowest cap is removed from the stack in the chute, andmeans for actuating said cup including a rod, means for re-' ciprocatingsaid rod, a roller carried by the rod, and a stationary cam over whichthe roller travels during the reciprocation of the rod and which is soformed that the cup is held at rest in register with the cap just priorand subsequent to the completion of the reciprocation of the rod.

.5. In a bottle capping machine, a cap sealing unit comprising a chutein which a stack 01 caps is placed, a cup movable toward and from. thechute and by which the lowest cap is removed from the stack in thechute, and means for actuating said cup including a rod, means for rebythe cup to be seated on the mouth of the ciprocating said rod, a rollercarried by the rod, and a stationary cam over which the roller travelsduring the reciprocation of the rod and which is so formed that the cupis held atrest' in register while the cup is so held at rest.

6. In a bottle capping machine of the type 'having a fixed cappingmechanism and a table on which a series of bottles to be capped aresupported: the combination comprising adjustable guide. means projectingfrom said-table for positioning bottles to be operated on by saidcapping mechanism, adjustable means for supporting said table atdifferent heights relative to said capping mechanism so as toaccommodate bottles of different sizes, and connections between saidguide means and table-supporting means constructed and arranged so thatmovement of the table in one direction or the other automaticallyadjusts said guide means.

'7. In a bottle capping machine of the type having fixed cap feeding andcap sealing units spaced from each other, and a table on which thebottles to be capped are supported: the'combination comprising movableguides for positiona ing the bottles at both units so as to accommodatebottles of different sizes, means for supporting said table at'differentheights relative to said units so as to accommodate such different sizebottles, mechanism for moving said guides so as Y to effect apredetermined adjustment thereof, and

ent sizes, means for supporting said table at different heights relativeto said units so as to accommodate such different size bottles, andconnections between said guides and table-supporting means constructedand arranged so-that movement of the table in one direction or anotherautomatically adjusts said guides. said connections including a carriagemounted for reciprocation of the under side of the table and in contactwith said guides, a stationary flange of irregular contour, and rollersmounted on said carriage in contact with said flange and operative-asthe table is moved toward and away from the units to reciprocate thecarriage'so as to adjust sald guides.

9.v In a bottle cappin machine of the type having a cap feeding unit, acap sealing unit and a table onwhich the bottles to be capped aresupported: the combination Comprising guides for positioning the bottlesat both units, said guides being adjustable for bottles of differentsizes, and said table being movabletoward and from said units toaccommodate such different size bottles, the guide for the bottles atthe cap feeding unit comprising bars each pivoted at one end, pins atthe other ends of the bars-which pins extend through arcuate slots inthe table, and rollers on the pins below the table, a carriage mountedfor reciprocation on the under side of the table and having inclinedslots which receive said rollers, the guide for the bottles at the'capsealing unit being a barrier comprising a U-shaped plate, a rod on whichsaid plate is mounted, a box supporting said rod, and pins extendingthrough slots in the table by which said box is attached to saidcarriage, and means for reciprocating said carriage as the table ismoved vertically whereby the guides are adjusted automatically,

pins extend through arcuate slots in the table,

- and rollers on the pins below the table, a/carriage mountedforreciprocation on the under side of the table and having inclinedslots which receive saidrollers, the guide [or the bottles at the capsealing unit being a barrier comprising a U-shaped plate, a rod onwhichsaid plate is mounted, a box supporting said rod, and pins extendingthrough slots in the table by which said box is attached to saidcarriage, and meansfor reciprocating said carriage as the table is movedvertically whereby the guides are adjusted automatically, said carriagereciprocating means comprising a stationary inclined flange of irregularcontour, and a pair of rollers mounted on the carriage in contact withsaid flange.

11. A semi-automatic bottle capping machine comprising stationary meansfor supporting a series of bottles to be'capped, a chute for receiving astack of caps to be applied to said bottles, feeding mechanism includinga swing arm havingat its free end a 'cap holding means operative toremove a cap from said stack and releasably hold it in a predeterminedposition above the supporting means, a trip associated with said capholding means for effecting the release of a cap held thereby, guidemeans operative to guide a bottle when moved along said supporting meansso as to operate said trip and receive a cap upon the release of saidcap holding means, a cap sealing head mounted to reciprocate toward andaway from said supporting means and operative to seal a cap about themouth of a bottle, actuating means for effecting a simultaneousoperation of said feeding mechanism and sealing head, a depressiblemember spaced above said supporting means and operative when depressedby a bottle moved against it correctly to position the bottle to beoperated on by said sealing head, and connections between saiddepressible member and actuating means for effecting the operation ofsaid actuating means in response to depression of said member.

ARTHUR H. BEDWORTH. LEWIS G. CURTIS.

